A sweet moment caught on video at New York’s Bronx Zoo is making lots of people smile. A baby Matschie’s tree kangaroo stuck its head out of its mom’s protective pouch, sniffed around, and then nuzzled with mom before going back inside. The cute interaction between a mom and her joey at the zoo isn’t something most people would otherwise see.
“Born at the end of December, the joey was the size of a human thumbnail, but already the baby is poking its head out from its mother’s pouch!” Bronx Zoo says in the video’s caption on Instagram. “After about seven months, it will emerge fully, returning frequently to the pouch to nurse.”
Bronx Zoo adds that most of a newborn tree kangaroo’s physical development takes place in its mom’s pouch. This baby is coming up on seven months, so based on the Bronx Zoo’s timeline, it may be close to emerging to explore the world more fully.
For now, the joey seems content to sniff the air, lick a leaf, and go back inside to its safe place.
Watch a baby tree kangaroo explore the world here:
Matschie’s tree kangaroos live in New Guinea, a large island off the northern coast of Australia. These solitary animals live up in trees, where they spend 60% of their time sleeping.
Have you ever seen a kangaroo joey this up-close before?